Tape-dispensing machine



N 1945- v A. P. KRUEGER 3 2,388,332

TAPE-DISPENSING MACHINE .File d March a, 1945- '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov; 6, 1945.

A. P. KRUEG ER TAPE-DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I Nov. 3, 1945. A. R'K UE ER 2,333,332

TAPE-DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3- 'NQW. 6, 1945. K 2,388,332

TAPfi-DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 8 1945 Patented Nov. 6, 1945 v UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFiCE TAPE-DISPENSING MACHINE I 7 Application March s, 1945, Serial Ni. scum 20 Claims. (01. 164-49) This invention relates to tape-serving machines, and more particularly to a device to deliver a strip of gummed tape of the desired length for sealing packages, parcels, boxes, or the like, which tape is commonly made of paper and usually is furnished in the form of a roll containing a continuous strip, the tape being gummed upon one surface and being fed over a moistening device and severed so that the severed strip is ready for application to the package. Such devices as the present invention relates to usually are provided with feed rolls for contasting the tape upon its upper and lower surfaces to propel it over the moistening means, and are also provided with asevering device of some kind, such as a knife, which may be automatically operated, or operated by the same element which operates the feed rolls. It is usually convenient to provide an oscillating lever having a forward and rear stroke to actuate the feeding mechanism, the strip being fed forwardly upon the forward stroke of the lever, The severing device may be actuated either at the end of the forward stroke of the lever or at the end of the return stroke, but in either event it will be actuated after a strip of tape of measured length has been fed from the machine.

It is necessary to arrest the feeding means during the operation of the severing means, and if the severing means, as in the present case, is constituted by a knife or cutter movable across the path of the tape strip, the feeding means must be arrested not only during its cutting stroke but also during its return stroke, so that r the resumptionof the feeding-of the tape after a severing operation will not take place untillthe knife has returned to its original position out of the path of the tape.

In such mechanisms the operating lever usually has a one-way connection with the feed mechanism, and it will be seen that, owing to the inertia of the parts, there may be an overthrow or continued movement of the feed mechanism after the movement of the hand lever is arrested, as a result of the one-way connection between the two. This might result in the delivery of a strip of tape longer than is desired, and it is, therefore, necessary to arrest the feeding mechanism at the proper time in order to insure that the delivered strip will be of the desired length,

7 When the severing operation takes place at the end of the return stroke, it is usually desirable to have at the rear end of the stroke a certain amount of lost motion of the handlever so that when this lever begins its forward stroke,

"strip feeding will not he immediately resumed hut will he delayed unt-ilthe cutter or knife has an opportunity to "return to its position of=rest and clear the path of the tape; 5

one ohiect of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tape-dispensing device of the character described;

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape-serving device having all of the functions commonly desired in such a machine, but which may at the same time lee economically manufactured and be efiicient in operation,

7 A still further object of the invention is to described which may be adjusted to sever the tape either at the endof the forward stroke or at the end of the return stroke of the operating lever, as desired by the operator, and at the same time deliver a strip of tape of desired length.

i A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape-serving mechanism oithe character described in which the feeding mechanism will be positively arrested at the end of a feeding str0ke oi the actuating lever, so asto avoid overthrow of the parts whereby the delivered strip will be of the desired length."

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewof a tape-serving machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a View of the machine from th opposite side; i a

Fg. 3 is a top plan view of the front end portion of "the machine, showing the feeding mechanism;

Fig.4 is a sectional view through the forward portionof machine; a

.Fig, 5 :is a "view similar to Fig. 4, showing the severing knife in its operative position just after the completionni the severing operation;

Fig, :6 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the device, showing the drive mechanism:

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the parts insanother position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 oi Fig. 6

from? the arms 22.

is introduced into the machine, as is :machines of this character. 7 ,Rotatably' mounted in the side plates of the moved.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing a modified form of drive mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a view of the drive mechanism from the reverse side; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line Illl of Fig. 9.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown a tape-serving mechanism comprising a frame or'basket I adjacent the front portion of which is a receptacle I [adapted to be filled with water or the like, and having therein a moistem'ng brush [2 over which the tape isdelivered between guide plates l3 and I4; As the above parts may be of usual form, further description thereof is unnecessary.

Mounted between the side walls of the frame,

adjacent the forward part of the machine, is a' supporting table l5 over which the tape is fed, and upon which table rests a pressureplatelt above the upper surface of the tape.

The tape is designed to be fed forwardly through upper and lower feed rolls I! and, IB,

the low'er ofthese two rolls being carried by a shaft 1.5 rotatably mounted in the frame and carrying at one end a pinion 20 (Fig. 6) by which this shaft and the feed roll thereon may be driven.

.The upper feed roll I! i mounted upon a shaft 2| carried by arms 22 (one at each side of the device), which arms are swingingly mounted upon a rod 23 extending transversely across the frame.

The upper .feed roll I1 is yieldingly pressed downwardly upon the lower roll by means of springs 24, the intermediateportions of which f ame I0 is a main drive shaft 30 having secured atone ,end an operating handle or lever 3| designed to be'oscillated to actuate the lower feed roll I78. The handle 3| is secured at one side of the, main frame of the machine, and at the other .side-,o f'the frame :is mounteda drive mechanism connecting this shaftwith the pinion 20 which is on the lower feed roll shaft [9.

This drive mechanism comprises a gear 32 "loosely mounted upon the shaft 30, the teeth of which 'm'eshwith a pinion 33 mounted on a shaft 34 on the frame of the machine, and secured to or. formed'integrally with a gear 35 the teeth of which mesh with the pinion 20. The novel drive mechanism which connects the shaft 30 with the gear 32 so as to drive the latter inone direction will now be described.

Loosely mounted upon the shaft 30 between the 'frameIofthe machine'and the gear'32 is a driving or actuating arm 36 rotatably carrying a pinion 531 the'teeth of whichmesh with those of the gear '32, so that, as this actuating arm is oscillated,-

th pinion 3'! will travel over the gear 32 unless itqis' held against, rotation, in which event it will drivethe gear 32 in the direction in which' it'is A second arm 38 is secured to the shaft 30'and is provided at its'upper end with an abutment 39 extending over the gear 32 so as to engage th face of the arm 38. Also loosely mounted on the shaft is a third arm 40 having on the rear face thereof a dog or detent 4| adapted to engage between the teeth of the pinion 31 and prevent the rotation of this pinion, while at the same time drawing the arm 35 forwardly. A spring 42 is mounted between posts 43 and 44 on the arms 38 and 40, and tends to draw these arm together as closely as is permittedb'y the'adjustable stop 45 pivoted to the arm 38 at 46.

A stop 41 is provided on the frame to contact the arm.36' and arrest its forward motion, and a stop 48 is also provided on the frame to contact this arm and arrest its rearward motion. A will be later explained, one of these stops will be used when the severing action takes place at the forward end 'of the stroke, while the other will be used when the cutting action takes place at the rear end of the stroke.

As shown in Fig. 2, abracket 49 is mounted on the frame H] adjacent the lever or handle 3! this bracket being provided with an arcuate slot 50 in which are mounted adjustable stop 5| and 52, so that these stops may beset atany desired place .along the slot 53. It will be understood that when the cutting action takes place at the forward end of the stroke it will not be desired to limit the forwardmovement of the lever 3! at the end of the feeding operation, and at this time the stop 52 will be at the extreme forward end of the slot 53, where it acts as a stop-for the lever at the conclusion of the cutting operation. At thi time the stop 5l: will be positioned, as shown in Fig. 2, to limit the return stroke of the lever so that no cutting will'take place at the end of the return stroke. In this position the maximum length of strip of tape which can be served at a single stroke will be obtained., It will be understood that this stop 5! may be moved forwardly to any desired point to serve shorter strips. When, however, the cutting takes place at the rear end of the stroke, the stop 5? will beset at the proper place along the bracket 43 'to stop the forward stroke just prior to .the beginning of the severing operation. This gives the maximum length of strip which can be served at a single stroke, and if shorter lengths are desired thestop 52 will be moved rearwardly to the proper position. At this time the stop .5! will be moved to the rear end of the slot Elland will serve as a stop for the lever at the end of the cutting operation.

' The severing mechanism comprises a knife or cutter frame comprising a pair of arms 55, one

' mounted adjacent each side wall of the frame,

which arms are pivoted upon the rod 25 and connected at their forward ends by a knife bar 55 carrying the severing blade 51. Each of the arms 55 is provided with a' depending plate 58, which plates are connected by transversely extending bar 59 in order to form a rigid frame. Secured to the shaft 33 arecutter-actuating cams or lugs 50, one adjacent each end of the shaft within the frame It), and these lugs are adapted at the end of the back stroke or return stroke of the handle 3| to contact one of the bars 59 and swing the .cutter about the rod 25 from its inoperative position,shown inFig. l, to the position shown in .Fig. 5,, during which movement the tape will be severed against the forward end of the table l5. A pair of coiled springs 62, one at each side of the device, are connected at one end to a member 63 'on the cutter frame, 55, and at the other end, as shown at 54, to the lugsBO, the intermediate portion of each spring'being passed around a sheave loosely mounted 'uponthe'shaft 34. the springs -62 serve the double purpose of maintaining the handle in its rearward position, orin position to begin the feeding stroke, and also maintain the knife blade in its upper inoperative position, shown inFig. 4. V

As will be obvious, the lugs 6-0 strike the bar 59 to operate the knife blade at the end of the return stroke, and beyond or rearwardly of the position at which feeding is initiated upon the forward stroke of the lever 34. In order that the knife may also be operated, i f desired, atthe end of a forward stroke of the operating lever, a stirrupfifi is connected at its upper-ends to the arms 55 of'the knife and depends downwardly, asshown i i 'igs. 4 L5, to a position where the body portion of the stirrup will be engaged by the lugs 5-D, shown in dotted lines Fig. 5, :so as to swing the knife frame downwardly about the pivot 25 and effect-an operative stroke of the cutting blade 51. It will, of course, beunderstood that, as will be. described hereinafter, the feedin ofthestrip will :be in'termpted prior to the operation of the nutter at the forward stroke :of the lever.

.As described above, thespinion 3.! is rotatably mounted on'the arm 3'6 bymeans of a headed pin 51, and thispinion may be frictionally restrained against rotation by means of :arelatively light compression spring 58 acting between thehea'd of the and the pinion (Fig. 8.) m

.It will be. recalled that the arm '38 is :fixed-to If-he handle 31 will then be released by the operator and will be returned sharply by the springs 62. At the beginning of movement the spring 12 will contract to its original length, bringing the inner end of the stop 45 against the arm 40, at which time the dog 41 will withdraw from the teeth of the pinion 31, and the lug 39 on the arm 38 will contact the forward or under face of the arm 3-6 and thus, move the arm "35 rearwardly, but atthe same time permit the pinion $1 to rotate about the periphery of the gear 32 so that the latter will remain at rest. It will be understood that there is a slight lost motion bethe shaft so that this arm constitutes the driv- 1 ing member for the feed mechanism, as'it is oscillated or moved with the hand lever 31. When the device is set to cut at the end of theforward stroke of. the lever 3.1, the parts will normally stand in the position shownin Figs. 4 and '6 when the device is at rest. If the handle 3! is moved forwardly from this position, the arm 38 will be rotated in :a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 6, and will draw along with it the arm 40 due to the spring 42 connecting these two arms, this spring being sufiiciently strong to exert an effort .suflicient to effect the normal feeding operation without being stretched to any appreciable extent. When the arm 40 moves forwardly,

pinion 31, and thus restrain this pinion against rotation, while at the same time drawing the arm 36 'forwardlyalong with the arm 40. This will effect rotation of the gear 3'2 and thus eifect the feedingopera tion.

The forward stroke of the lever 31 will cause the arm 36 to strikethe stop '41 and be arrested by this stop, thus checking the feeding movement of the parts. This position is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, where it will be noted that the dog 'orlug H is engaged between theteet'h of the pinion 3-7, and the arm 36 is against the stop 41. Thus the pinion 3i will/also be held against rotation so that the gear 3'2 will be posit'iv'ely held against rotation and prevent any overthrow movement which would tend to feed an additional length of strip. Continued movement of the lever 31 moves the arm 3-8 to the dotted line position shown in 6 without further movement of the arm 36, this being allowed by the extension of the spring 42, and this additional movement serves to engage the lugs 30 with the stirrup 6 and effect the operation of the severing bladet'l. This severing operation is, as stated, efiecte'd while the arm is at rest against the stopfl, so that during this operation any is positively prevented by the engagement of the dog 44 the pinion 31;

tween the arm 36 on the one hand and theabut inents 39 and M on the other hand to permit the latter to withdraw from the teeth of the pinion just prior to the engagement of the abutment 39 with the arm 36. Hence during the return stroke of the lever 3| there will be no movement of the gear 32, the retarding eliect of the spring 68 on the pinion 31 not being sufficient to operate the gear train. The lever 31 will be returned by the spring 62 against the stop 5-! at the rear of the bracket 39, which stop will be set to determine the beginning of the forward feeding motion of the device so as to measure the length of the severed strip. At this time the front stop 52 will not be employed to limit the feed, as the forward feeding motion will be arrested by the engagement of the stop 4?! with the arm 3'6.

When it is desired. to sever the stripatthe rear end of the return stroke, the stop T5 is turned about the pivot 4'3 from the position shown Fig. -6 to thatshow-n in Fig. '7, thus separating th arms 38 and til to a further extent against the tension of the spring 42. It'may be noted that at this time the spring 42 may be disregarded, as the arms 38 and '49 are held at all times in their relative positions, shown in Fig. 7. This provides a greater amount of lost motion between the arms 38 and 4h and "the arm 35, which will serve to permit a sufiicient range of movement at the rear of the return stroke to effiect the cutting operation without feeding the tape.

stop '52 will now be adjuted along the slot 50 to arrest the feeding movement, and thus measure the served strip. As shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the parts are in the position assumed at the rear end of the back stroke after the cutting operation has taken place. When the lever 31 is moved forwardly, no movement of the arm 36 will be effected until the dog il is moved to a suffic'ient extent to engage the teeth of the pinion 31. This permits the lugs Ell to disengage the bar 59 and permit the knife to swing upwardly out of thepath of the tape before the initiationef the feedingoperation. When the dog 41 engages the teeth of the pinion 35, feeding will be initiated as before, and will be continued until the lever 3! strilres the stop 52. The lever will then be released and the parts returned 'by the springs 62, the return stroke of the lever being arrested by the engagement of this member with a feltco'llar 10 (Fig. 3-) on'the stop member 54, although it will be understood that this stop will be set beyond the feeding range of the lever. At about the same time the rearward movement of the arm 36 will be arrested by the stop '48, so that this arm cannot overthrow rear wardly against the dog 4 thus holding the arm '36 in the position shown in Fig. TI to provide tor the raising of the knife, as described, betore the dog 4| can again contact the pinion 3 1. During the latter part of this return movement, prior tothe engagement of the lever arm 31 with "the stop 5|, the severing mechanism will be actuated by the lug 69 striking the bar 59, and thus effect the severing of the strip.

It will be noted that the mechanism shown can be employed either as a front-cut machine or a above described in connection with the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 8. Between the gear 32 and the frame it a driving arm 75 is secured to the shaft 39, which arm corresponds to the driving arm 38 previously described. On the other side of the gear 32 an arm 16 is mounted loosely on the shaft 36, this arm carrying a dog 11 adapted to engage the teeth of a pinion I8 rotatably mounted on a pin l9 carried by an arm 89 also loosely mounted on the shaft 33 forwardly of the arm it. As shown in Fig. 11, the pinion i8 is spaced from the arm 89 by the spacing collar 8| so that it will lie in the plane of the gear 32 and mesh with the teeth of this gear.

As best shown in Fig, 10, a latch member 32 is pivoted at 83 to an arm 15, this latch member being provided with a recess 84 adapted to embrace an inwardly projecting stud 85 on the arm 16, so that, when the stud is engaged in the recess, the arms 15 and IE will be locked together.

The latch member 82 is urged into engagement with the stud 85 by a spring 96 secured at one end to the latch member and at the other end to the arm 75, and a spring 87 extends between the pin 83 and the stud 85, which spring tends to urge these arms toward each other, as permitted by the latch member 82. It will be noted that the lower lip 88 of the recess projects outwardly so that it will catch upon the adjacent edge of thestud 85 when the arms 15 and 16 are drawn together by the spring 81.

The latch member 82 is provided with a cam or tail portion 90 designed to be engaged by a stop 9|. on the frame Iii of the machine, when the arm 15 is moved to its forward position in the feeding operation. When the stop 9| strikes the tail portion 90 of the latch member, the latter will be cammed in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 83, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to disengage the recess 84 from the post 85 and thus release the arm 16. the feeding stroke of the parts, and at thistime the pin 19 on the arm 89 strikes a stop 92 on the frame of the machine so that further movement of the arm Bil, and therefore of the pinion 18 and gear 32, is prevented. However, as the driving arm 15 is now unlatched from the arm 16, the former may continue its movement against the tension of the spring 81' to effect the severing of the strip while the feeding mechanism is at rest. It will be understood that the severing will be effected by the means shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

The pin 19 which carries the pinion I8 is extended inwardly beyond the gear 32 and serves as an abutment against which the arm 15 may bear to return the parts during the return stroke of the lever 3| and shaft 39.

The operation of this form of my invention may now be described. With the parts occupying the This occurs at the end of position shown in full lines in Fig. 9, the device is ready to begin an operative cycle. The shaft 30 is oscillated by the handle or lever 3|, and as the arm 151s secured rigidly to this shaft it will also be oscillated. At this time the arm 16, which is latched to the arm 15 by the latch member 82, will also be moved forwardly, and the dog 11 willengage the teeth of the pinion 18, preventing the rotation of the pinion and also moving the arm forwardly so as to rotate the gear 32. The feeding of the strip is thus initiated and continues until the pin 19 strikes the stop 92, and this arrests the movement of the arm 89. This position of the parts is shown in dottedline position in Fig. 9, where it will be noted that the dog 11 is between the teeth of the pinion 18, thus locking the gear 32 against overthrow.

Just prior to contact of the pin 19 with the stop 92, the tail portion 90 of the latch 82 engages the stop 9| and throws the latch 82 into the position shown in Fig. 10, in which the recess 84 is disengaged from the post 85, thus permitting. the arms 15 and 16 to separate against the tension of the spring 81, and permit the shaft 30 to continue its rotation to effect the severingv operation. It

will be understood that during this continued movement the arm 15 moves away from the arms 80 and 16, which will remain in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 9.

At the end of the severing operation the operator releases the lever 3|, which is returned to its rearward position by the springs 52. Upon the beginning of this rearward movement of the lever 3| and arm 75, the tail 9B of the latch clears the stop 9| and the latch is moved about its pivot by the spring '83 so that the shoulder 88 engages below the post and insures the entry of the latter into the recess 84. At this time the arm 15 picks up the arm 16 through the agency of the latch 82, and also picks up the arm 80 by engagement with the extended end of the pin 19 so that the three arms are returned together to the'fullline position shown in'Fig. 9. It will be understood that there is a slight lost motion between the arms I5 and 7.6 on the one hand and the arm 89 on the other, so that, at the beginning of the return movement of the parts, the dog II will move out of engagement with the teeth of the pinion 18 prior to the picking up of the arm 80 by the arm 15 so that the pinion 18 will be permitted to rotate idly over the periphery of the gear 32 and the latter remain at rest during the return movement of the parts. While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit 01 the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member by which power is applied to feed the tape, said member having a one-way drive connection with said feeding means, and means for positively locking said feeding means against overthrow at the end of the feeding stroke of said member.

2. A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member by which power is applied to feed the tape, said member having a one-way drive connection with said feeding means, and automatically acting means for positively locking said feeding means against overthrow at the end. of

the feeding stroke of said member. i

tively locking said gear against rotation at the.

end of a feeding stroke of said member.

4. A tape-dispensing'machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member by which power is applied to feed the tape, a drive gear for said feeding means, said memberhaving a one-way drive connection with said drive gear, and means for positively locking said gear against rotation at the end of the feeding stroke of said member, said connection including means permitting additional movement of said member in the same direction after the rotation of said gear is checked.

5. A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member by which power is applied to feed the tape, an actuating arm connected to said feeding means to drive the same when the arm is moved in one direction, means to check the movement of said am and simultaneously and positively lock the feeding means against overthrdw, and an operative connection between said driving member and said arm.

6. A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member by which power is applied to feed the tape, an actuating arm connected to said feeding means to drive the same when the arm is moved in one direction, means to check the movement of said arm and simultaneously and positively lock the feeding means against overthrow, and a 1ost-motion connection between said driving member and said arm permitting. addiapplied. to feed thetape, ;means connecting said member to one of said rolls, said means comprising an. actuator connected to said roll to rotate the latter upon the forward movement of the actuator, means connecting said member to the actuatorto move the latter in both directions comprising anabutment at each side of the actuator, means for adjusting the spacing of said abutments to vary the lost motion between said actuating: arm and said abutments, stop means engaging said arm at. either end of its stroke, and

cutting means operable by said driving means at either end of its stroke. i r

10 A tape-dispensing machine comprising feeding rolls between which the tape is advanced, a drive gear operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate the latteiimeans to drivesaidgear comprising an actuating arm pivoted on the axis of the gear and carrying a pinion meshing with the gear, drive mechanism oscillatable about said gear axis and having an abutment on each side of said arm, said abutments being spaced apart to permit lost motion between said mechanism and said arm at each end of the stroke, and means checking the forward movement of said arm while holding said pinion against rotation.

11. A tape-dispensing machine comprising feeding rolls between which the tape is advanced, a drive gear operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate the latter, means to drive said gear comprising an actuating arm pivoted on the axis of the gear and carrying a pinion meshing with I the gear, drive mechanism oscillatableabout said tiona'l forward movement of the driving member 7 after the movement of said arm. is. checked.

'7. A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member bywhich power is applied to feed the tape, an actuating arm connected to said feeding means 'to drive the same when the arm is moved in one direction, means to check the movement of said arm and simultaneously and positively lock the feeding means against overthrow, a lost-motion connection between said driving member and said arm permitting additional forward movement of the driving member after the movement of said arm is checked, a severing device, and means for actuating said device by said additional movement of the driving member after the checking of said arm,

8. In a tape-dispensing machine, feed rolls between which the tape is fed forwardly, an oscillatable driving member through which power is applied to feed the tape, means connecting said member to one of said rolls, said means comprising an actuator connected to said roll to rotate the latter upon the forward movement of the actuator, means connecting said member to the actuator to move the latter in both directions comprising an abutment at each side of the actuator, and means for adjusting the spacing of said abutments to vary the lost motion between said actuating arm and said abutments.

9. In a tape-dispensing machine, feed rolls between which the tape is fed forwardly, an oscillatable drivin member through which power is gear axis and havingan abutment on each side of said arm, said abutments being spaced apart to permit lost motion between said mechanism and saidarmat each end of the stroke, and

severing means operable by said drive mecha-.

nism at either end of the stroke;

12- A tape-dispensing machine comprisin feeding rolis between which the tape is advanced, a drive gear operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate the latter, means to drive said gear comprising an actuating arm pivoted on the axis of the gear and carryinga pinion meshing with the gear, drive mechanism oscillatable about said gear axis and having anabutment on one side of said arm and a dog to engage the teeth of the pinion on the other side of'said arm, means providing relative movement between said arm and drive mechanism to disengage the dog from the pinion when the abutment engages the arm, and means for engaging said arm to check the forward movement thereof while said dog holds said pinion against movement.

13. A tape-dispensing machine comprising feeding rolls between which the tape is advanced, a drive gear operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate the latter, means to drive said gear comprising an oscillatable driving member, an arm pivoted on the axis of said member and having means to engage the teeth of the ear, a second arm pivoted on the axis of the driving member and engaging said first arm at one side thereof, said driving member engaging said first arm on the other side thereof, and an extensible spring joining said driving member and said second arm and serving to move the latter in a feeding direction when said driving member is moved forwardly.

14. A tape-dispensing machine comprising feeding rolls between which the tape is advanced, a drive gear operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate the latter, means to drive said gear comprising an oscillatable driving member, an

ing means to engage the teeth of the gear, a second arm pivoted on the axis of the driving member and engaging said first arm at one side thereof, said driving member engaging said first arm on the other side thereof, an extensible spring joining said driving member and said second arm and serving to move the latter in a feeding direction when said driving member is moved forwardly, means to check the movement of said first-named arm at the end of a forward stroke thereof, severing means, and means to actuate said severing means by an additional movement of said driving member after the movement of said first arm is checked.

'15. A tape-dispensing machine comprising feed rolls. between which the tape is advanced, a drive gear operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate the latter, a pivotally mounted actuating arm having a one-way connection with said gear, an oscillatable driving member engaging one side of said arm to move the same in one direction, a, second arm on the side of said first arm to'move the latter in the opposite direction, an extensible spring connecting said second arm to said driving member and urging it toward the latter, and adjustable means holding said driving member and said second arm in spaced relation against the tension of said spring.

16. A tape-dispensing machine comprising feed rolls between which the tape is fed forwardly, an oscillatable drive shaft, connecting means between said shaft and rolls to drive the latter, severing means comprising a knife frame and a knife carried thereby, spaced actuating members on said frame, and means on said drive shaft for engaging either of said members to actuate the severing means.

17. A tape-dispensing machine comprising feed rolls between which the tape is fed forwardly, an oscillatable drive shaft, connecting means between said shaft and rolls to drive the latter, severing means comprising a knife frame and a knife carried thereby, spaced actuating members on said frame, and means on said drive shaft for engaging either of said members to actuate the severing means, said means engaging one of said members at the forward end of the movement of the drive shaft and the other member at the rear end of such movement.

18. A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member by which power is applied to'feed the tape, said feeding means including a 5 drive gear, an arm connected with said gear to drive the same in one direction, stop means checking the forward movement of said arm, a latch member carried by the driving member and engaged with said arm, and means engaging said latch member adjacent the end of a forward stroke of the arm to'disengage the latch member from the arm and permit additional forward movement of the driving member independently of the arm. 4 v

19. A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member by which power is applied to feed the tape, said feeding means including a drive gear, an arm connected with said gear to drive the same in One direction, stop means checking the forward movement of said arm, a latch member carried by the driving member and engaged with said arm, means engaging said latch member adjacent the end of a forward stroke of the arm to disengage the latch member from the arm and permit additional forward movement of the driving member independently of the arm, and means for locking the feeding means against overthrow upon disengagement of the latch member from said arm.

20. A tape-dispensing machine comprising means for feeding the tape forwardly, an oscillatable driving member by which power is applied to feed the tape, said feeding means including a drive gear, an arm connected with said gear to drive the same in one direction, a latch member carried by the driving member and engaged with said arm, said engagement comprising a recess in said latch member and a post on the arm, 40 means engaging said latch member adjacent the end of a forward stroke of the arm to effect disengagement of the post from said recess, and one edge of said recess projecting beyond the other edge thereof to insure reengagement of the post 45 in said recess when the latch member is disengaged from said means.

ALFRED P. KRUEGER. 

